IshVeer FF : La Douleur Exquise| Important Announcement (Page 51) - Page 9

Chapter 12: Angel and Demon

"So, this all started from Gauri's marriage. 3 years ago." The voice pulled RV out of his thoughts, almost like a soul being dragged out of its body. He didn't turn back or answer anything. The calm of the morning was far too precious to be broken by anything else. "And Ishani..." Her name snapped RV out of the reverie and this time he turned back, his expressions unfathomable.

"Gauri's marriage was a turning point," RV answered, his voice considerably low. "Perhaps because it affected Ishani so much." RV couldn't silence the flutter of his heart at Ishani's name and hoped his friend didn't notice it. "But I remember how broken Gauri was... something felt so close to what I'd often think about. And Gauri had become a living proof." He sighed and turned back to the window again.

"Where is she now?"

"Delhi," RV said without turning back. "Divorced Romil."

"But why? Did he find out about Pranav?"

"He came to know about him after a few weeks of the marriage and had no problem with her past."

"Then?"

"Not all that glitters is gold, sir."

Did RV ever stop talking in riddles? Half the times people found him hard to deal with was because the man never knew how to be polite even to those older than him in age. No, he wasn't arrogant unlike the belief, just hard to deal with.

"I don't think I understand. And what went wrong, RV? Why did Gauri divorce her husband? And Pranav? Does he know about the divorce?" he said. "And can you stop calling me sir? It sounds awkward."

RV chose to answer only one question. "Pranav disappeared as soon as Gauri asked him to go away. He was never seen again."

His friend sniffed, a sign on his irritation and RV couldn't suppress a silent chuckle at the expression. However, he remained silent.

"And... Ishani? You guys were childhood friends. What went wrong?"

RV shut his eyes for a while and took a deep breath. "Time changed everything," he answered, refusing to say any further.

"But how, RV? What you felt for her was extraordinary! And I'm sure behind this facade there's still somewhere that emotion hidden. Your eyes say it all."

RV gasped at the bluntness but gulped down the retort, remaining silent for a while. "At the end of the day, it didn't matter what I felt. Or anything I said. All that mattered was Chirag Mehta." There was a spiteful bitterness in RV's tone now that he didn't bother to hide. He heard a chuckle from behind and turned back.

"I wonder what Chirag is about to do now."

"I'm sure something extremely important." RV smiled venomously.

"I'm not going to pester you anymore, my boy. I'm sure you've had enough time travel for a day."

RV remained silent, but cast a gratuitous look at the man.

"I'll go meet Kailash. Or he'll chew me up whole!" He laughed and began walking when in stormed Puneet, surprising everyone. RV scowled.

"Well?"

"Sir!" Puneet panted, taking sharp breath as if he had scaled the highest mountain just now.

"Easy, Puneet." Puneet blushed, knowing his boss wasn't going to be too kind so he acknowledged the remark by his friend. The only person who was supposed to know his boss more than anyone and yet he didn't. Shaking his head, Puneet looked at RV.

"Sir," he said, still gulping for air. "What you've said is done. They'll be known everything on the day of the auction itself. She will be where you want her on that day."

RV smiled, his eyes burning like a ferocious sun and crossed his arms to his chest. "That was the last thing to be done before it all begins," he said almost to himself, but the words were heard by both the men present in the room. They glanced at each other, hoping to know what RV wanted before one of them couldn't contain his curiosity.

"Sir," Puneet spoke first, "do you mind sharing with us what are you going to do?" He knew very well RV would never open his mouth unless it was the right time for him to say. But there was no harm in trying. The novel-like suspense was killing him already and Puneet knew keeping the curiosity to himself anymore would kill him now.

Thankfully, the effort paid off a little. "I suppose it's time you two know everything." RV glanced at both his friends, his lips bent in a faint smile. He seemed to contemplate over something as if to continue the revelation or not. "The wait is over."

The two men still stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue. But he didn't say anything else.

"And, sir?"

"Get back to work," RV's voice echoed. "No time to lose."

Disappointed, Puneet turned to leave but RV's voice stopped him. "Great work, Puneet."

Puneet flushed deeply this time. "Thank you, sir."

"You can leave now."

The men walked away and RV was left to himself, pondering, contemplating the matters at hand. The auction was in two days and so was he, few steps away from the first step of his mission. The enemy wouldn't even know the danger he was in. Neither the price he was supposed to pay. It was going to be a slow, painful game for both the sides: for them, they'd never know the danger and for him, his wish to wring the neck of the enemies. The quiet torment would haunt until the enemy was forced to retreat from the battle. Retreat? There was no retreating in RV's dictionary for those who had destroyed the lives of the people he loved. He was forced to live through an agony he wouldn't wish even with the enemies until few years ago. No one gave his Mota Babuji any chance when he needed it the most and no one gave him to prove he was innocent. But now, he would make them live through each and every pain he had feared throughout his life for others.

No one deserved to suffer, his mother always told him. We were no Gods to determine anyone else's future. Kindness was in our hands and so were our choices.

But RV believed in none of this. His mother wasn't there anymore to tell him of right and wrong and he was no child either to fall in the traps of this innocent game of kindness. RV had seen how the world worked and what he needed to survive in this ruthless world. Power. He had it now. Just like he needed it all those years ago to prove he was innocent. Just like he needed it to save his mother when she took her last breath. Just like he needed it to unbreak his heart when it was shattered into pieces by a single blow of heartlessness.

No! It was all a past now. RV didn't dwell there anymore. Not in the memories. He lived in purpose. For a reason he had set out for, deciding it was time to fulfill it, too. His Mota Babuji waited for too long, trusting the souls that proved to be the enemies in disguise, like those vultures that appeared to be swans when the moonlight beamed at their withered wings.

But, now, who would help them?

Ishani Parekh sat silently, lost deep in the thoughts while the hospital bills lay before her, staring at her expectantly. It had been weeks since her father was admitted to the hospital, but no improvement was registered yet. The savings, the rest of the ways to the payments had been utilized and now all they had left was to take the help from Sharman, in case he could do anything. Financial condition was drowning into the pits everyday, and Ishani hoped he would be here in a few minutes with either a positive or negative response. Ishani closed her eyes, praying silently to God for a little help for her father. They didn't have enough savings while the doctors suggested her father needed to stay in the hospital for a longer while. The next few days would determine whether he could improve or not and if he didn't, his last days were to be spent in home. But it wasn't what she wanted. The man deserved to live, to see the new day more than anyone in the world she knew. But how would he do this when the entire universe appeared to utilize its entire power against him? Things had only gotten worse and worse everyday since... Ranveer left. Ishani gasped. It was for the first time in three years she let her mouth taste his name, feel it swirling on her tongue like the same old candy that she loved as a child. It still felt the same. Like him. Warm and protective like two curled arms of an embrace around her fragile frame. And suddenly she longed for the same long lost comfort, hoping for a magic to undo the past and let him be near her. He knew how to set things right. He always did.

Something snapped her out of the reverie and Ishani realized the clouds gather in the sky, the black hue of the fleecy smoke rumbling overhead.

"If it rains without a reason, it means God is crying." She remembered him tell her. "... and I can't see anyone crying." A drop of tear appeared in her eye.

Why did he do this with me, then? she thought angrily to herself and all of a sudden, the sweetness of his name was overcome by the bitterness of his betrayal. She hated him! Perhaps more than anyone in this world. Ever since he'd left Ishani had made sure never to talk about him to anyone. She had willingly thrown everything belonging to him away. She hated him, Ishani whispered again and again.

She stood up, gulping for air as the pain from the accident of a day before rekindled maliciously in her feet. The thought led her back to Chirag. He'd said he would come and meet her but he didn't. He was busy, Ishani told herself firmly. He would call as soon as he's free, she kept telling herself. And then her phone rang.

"Hello!" Ishani said, without looking at the caller ID.

"Hey, sweetheart!" Much to Ishani's happiness, Chirag's voice echoed from another side. "Thinking of me?" It was his usual playful tone that made her blush a little.

"Yes," Ishani answered. "How are you, Chirag? It's been so long we've talked." Unsure why she said these words, Ishani let the matter go.

"I'm sorry!" he said in a cheerful voice that didn't seem sorry at all. "Chirag Mehta wants to be the King Of Dalal Street, and you know."

"Yes."

"So, I have a surprise for you!"

"Surprise?"

"I'll pick you up for in the evening," Chirag said, his voice low. "Make sure to look the best."

"But--" Without listening to Ishani's words Chirag disconnected the call and Ishani sighed, wondering what was in store for her in the evening. A knock at the door snapped her out of her thoughts and Ishani looked back.

"Ishani, Sharman wants to meet you," her mother said.

"Maa, please send him here. It's something urgent I want to discuss with him."

Falguni nodded and left without another word. 2 minutes later Ishani heard the sound of the footsteps and stood up, smiling. It still hurt a little in walking but it would do.

"Ishani! How are you?" Sharman said, taking her in his arms.

"I'm fine, bhaiya." Ishani smiled. She looked at his hopefully as Sharman sighed.

"Ishani," he said, taking a seat on the sofa while Ishani sat on the bed in front of him. He looked anxious. "I'm afraid I don't have enough money for now." He shook his head, despaired, and gulped. "I'm sorry. I don't know how to help Kaka."

Ishani stood up and trudged towards him. "Is there nothing we can do?" She kneeled in front of his chair as Sharman looked into her eyes.

Without another word further he produced a small pack from his pocket and handed it to Ishani. "It's not enough," he said. "The expanses are running high."

Ishani stifled a sob and wiped the drops of threatening tears from her eyes. "May be we'll manage with these by then?"

"But it's still not enough, Ishani," Sharman said, standing up. "It's something we can't help."

"But getting Papa home wouldn't help the matter," Ishani said, feeling her cheeks getting wet with the new tears. Ishani felt sudden splashes of the rain entering the room from an open window, realizing the words said by him come true. It felt God was indeed crying today. She rushed and shut the window down quickly.

"We need to go, Ishani, and see if there's anything possible Kaka," Sharman said and Ishani nodded her head.

The exit from the house took a bit of unnecessary drama, for Baa wouldn't allow Sharman to enter the home, but it was Falguni who handled the matter, helping them to escape the interrogation of the old woman. Ishani remained silent throughout the journey, wishfully hoping for a miracle to happen. Not for her sake. But for Papa. She leaned her head over Sharman's shoulder who remained silent, giving her proper space to think of the matter. However, at last he spoke.

"Over thinking won't help it, Ishani," Sharman said, and Ishani looked at him. Realizing they were drawing near where Papa's life will be literally in the hands of God, Ishani's heart sank.

"A miracle, God. Please!" she murmured to herself, squeezing her eyes shut for a while. She felt someone grip her arm. Turning back she realized it was Sharman who nodded at her with a rueful smile.

They entered the hospital, Ishani's heart beating loudly in her chest. She replayed a thousand ways to convince the doctors to let her father stay in the hospital. She'd plead in front of them, if needed, promising to pay the bills on time in any way she could. She'd tell them how he'd done everything for others and now they were to return the favor, if for nothing else, atleast for humility that bound everyone together. They were doctors, right? They knew how important a person could be to others. If Sharman came to know about her thoughts, he'd only answer, "Be practical, Ishani! The world is a money driven place."

She'd seen how this world worked. It lusted after power. The same power she'd lost after a few months Ranveer left. No, she wouldn't think of him again! He had a knack of torturing her thoughts again and again when he needed to leave her once and for all.

Five minutes' journey brought them in front of the cabin of Dr. Saxena, the doctor that attended Harshad Parekh. Ishani took a deep breath before Sharman knocked at the cabin's door.

"Come in!"

Ishani and Sharman walked in slowly while Ishani felt the thumping of her heart become loud with each step.

"Please take a seat."

She faintly remembered the doctor's smile, imagining in her mind how the man was going to forget all his manners in a few moments when they announced and requested that they needed more time to pay the hospital bills. Oh, it was the matter of her honour. Her self-respect. But it didn't matter when it came to her father. He'd gone against the norms of the society for her sake and she would do anything to keep him safe.

"So, any special reason for your unexpected appearance?"

"Unexpected?" Ishani wonder slowly to herself. Weren't they called for...?

Sharman answered the question but the doctor shook his head. "You needn't worry about that, Mr. Parekh." Ishani didn't have the time to wonder when the Mr. Saxena continued, without blinking. "Someone today paid 1 million, the total sum of the bills so far and 40 per cent extra for the next four weeks."

Ishani and Sharman gasped, their eyes widening as they heard in silence, unable to even voice out a little.

"But..." Ishani said. "Who?"

"I don't know." The doctor shrugged, pausing for a moment as if unsure to continue. "It was strange... someone mailed on my personal account, asking for the information about your father's condition, which, of course, we are not allowed to reveal to anyone unless for the family members. So, the gentleman transferred a large amount of money to our account, stating he was willing to pay further as well. Briefly we talked on the phone and that's when we were forced to accept his offer. He asked us not to tell you about this right away."

Ishani and Sharman stared at each other, wondering who could this person be.

"Did he tell something about himself?" Sharman asked at last.

"No. Although I did persuade him a little and he informed that he owed Mr. Harshad Parekh his life, so he wanted to pay that back somehow. We haven't heard anything in return."

"Any number? Mail? How did you contact him?"

"It was an unknown number but we've been trying since last 4 hours to find out about it. No success."

Sharman looked at Ishani who was more relieved than she dared to express. But most of all, she was curious. Who was this man who helped them in this hour?

"When you're alone, God sends an angel." Her father once said. Did they really exist?

Ishani couldn't help but feel a heavy burden being lifted from her heart, more when the realization of the gravity of what the anonymous helper had done began to make sense to her. She hoped she could meet him someday, to thank him for being the angel that came to her like a warm breeze on an icy day. Finally, there was someone who knew the meaning of kindness. Someone who didn't exist for just money or power. Even if her brother continued to interrogate the doctor, Ishani knew- deep in her heart- that this man wouldn't mean any harm. Why she was so sure, she didn't know, but there was no other name to this feeling that found its way to her. Like the swish of the wind reaching to a flower and stirring it with life. She wished this unknown angel- whether she ever met him or not- remained blessed with the happiness he richly deserved. Someone helping them when the world accused her father of something heinous couldn't be selfish or worthy of any interrogation from her side. Slowly, she gave her cousin's arm a squeeze.

"Let's go, bhaiya!" Ishani whispered. Sharman looked bewildered for a while and then shook his head.

"Ishani, we'll never know who this... and who knows this could be a trap to get Kaka?"

"No." She smiled. "Bhaiya, you know, Papa always said listen to your heart when you can't find a way'. And mine says let it be."

She had never been so sure about anything in her life.

"I feel tired." Puneet stretched himself, yawning as he left the conference room in the evening. "Time to have some lunch before boss gets me and orders something I'm incapable to do." He was in no shape of doing anything right now. Especially after the job done the night before.

No answers. No hints. No evidences. Nothing about the plans his boss was trying. What was this man upto? The more he thought of him, the more everything appeared to entangle itself around him, with the tiniest possibility of the answers. Puneet sighed. If he didn't do anything real soon, something was going to eat up his brain from inside out. Mystery novels revealed their secrets within a few hundred pages, but RV wouldn't do so in years, no matter how annoyingly pestering people got about him. The worst thing: No one wanted to discuss his past. Not even his father who seemed rather friendly with people, unlike RV himself. Puneet couldn't help but grunt in frustration as the thoughts began to whirl around him, like thick cluster of dust covering his vision.

And when he thought he couldn't take it anymore, a sound from behind rolled out.

"Let me go!" A man down in the hall shouted. Struggling to escape the hold of the guards on him. "I said let me go, you idiots! Do you know who I am?" But no one seemed to heed his words as the guards decided to push him away. Puneet couldn't see his face clearly, but the things he could make out were that the man wore a pair of APO jeans but an extremely simple shirt, giving an opposite impression of his swagger looks. His hairs were disarrayed while his voice rarely lowered down as if automatically set on high volume. He was like an abandoned clown that didn't make people laugh.

Who was he? From behind Puneet heard a sigh. On turning back he saw his boss, RV, watching the game with an amused smirk on his face. Why was his boss so amused in the first place?

"Sir? That man..." Puneet began, but RV seemed not to have heard him. "I think he's..."

"I think he's lost his way," RV answered softly. "Don't you think so?" He looked at Puneet.

Puneet shrugged his shoulders. "He's not leaving either. Should we call the police?"

"Oh, please! Do the honors," RV said with a smile. Puneet noticed a small flicker on his boss' face- almost like a triumph- that disappeared as soon as it had come. Uh, was he imagining the things?

RV left and Puneet clambered down, the people giving him a way as he approached. "Sir, this man!" one of the guards spoke but Puneet silenced him with a glance.

"What do you want?" he asked. Puneet noticed the man's appearance did not differ from his previous assumption; instead he looked more ragged now. As though a novice left alone for a mission he had no idea about. "You aren't allowed to talk aloud in here." He scowled.

The man seemed to compose himself from the struggle, giving the people around him angry looks and paused at Puneet's face.

"Hey!" he said and smiled.

"What is your business?"

"Ah, yes, yes," he said, scratching his head in realization. "I came to meet RV here."

"He doesn't want to meet you."

"Tell him it's me."

"You?" Puneet looked confused.

"Chirag Mehta," he spoke, making Chirag sound more like "Chirwag" Mehta as he extended his hand for a handshake. "You must've heard my name, right?" He added more enthusiastically.

Puneet shook his head with a cluck of his tongue, much to Chirag's disappointment as he took his hand back.

"My father is one of the most important people in the Dalal Street," Chirag spoke, waving his hands in the air. "And my grandfather... he owned half of the Mumbai in his time. You know what? Had it not been for him, Reliance would still be stuck with their backlog of the ages!"

Puneet raised an eyebrow, a sign that he wasn't following Chirag at all and Chirag silenced. This man clearly bluffed.

"My boss just ordered for the cops to fetch you." Puneet sighed. "I'm afraid they're already here."

Chirag looked horrified as two policemen walked towards him, making their way to handcuff him. "No, no!" he shrieked while his cries went unheard as the crows gathered around to witness the drama, few snickering faces glaring at Chirag. The cops left without another word, making Puneet wonder about the matters more deeply. Chirag Mehta, the name seemed little familiar to him now. Had he heard of him somewhere? Unsure why, Puneet felt the name wasn't as strange to him as it appeared a few moments ago. His eyes suddenly fell on the space above where his boss stood now. Even from this distance he could make out his boss' eyes carried a glint, almost a victorious one, his hands firmly gripping the hard railing as he leaned to take the view below, while a rage seemed building within him. Slowly, as Puneet noticed further, RV's eyes lost the glint, and the gleam was replaced by a fire as though the bulging rage eventually exploded, smoldering none but him, for RV's face paled a little and he left immediately.

"RV sir, are you alright?" Puneet asked the moment he entered cabin, little flustered at entering without asking for his boss' permission. However, RV seemed not to notice as he stayed silent, watching the view in front him calmly. It was as if the last 15 minutes had not at all happened. "Sir?"

RV turned around. "What about the Guptas?" he asked. "How much is left of them?"

"They're- they're offering us money... which obviously we don't want. They said they're ready to pay the loss but won't cooperate anymore."

RV sighed. Puneet could tell he was beginning to lose his patience. The GRs had to end it soon or they were landed in a trouble. "Could they not be little more creative?"

"Partnership with you is something they don't want, sir, when they're doing quite well. They're afraid you will not give them their proper due since all is coming to the RV Group and not them. The cunning RV," Puneet explained, unsure if this was the right thing to say. Small companies had their own fears and you couldn't blame them, though.

"Could you arrange a small meeting with them? Tell RV wants to see them."

"Are you sure, sir?" Puneet frowned.

RV didn't answer and Puneet let out a frustrated sigh. The answer was yes.

The shock from the afternoon did not wear off. Ishani still remained lost in her thoughts, wondering if her conscience allowed her to take help from a stranger she had never met and might never either. Despite her heart feeling light, butterflies in her stomach began their rounds and she shuddered. Sharman and she had argued over the matter the entire way, he telling her not to take help from anyone, for an amount as large as this would take eternity to get paid back. Yet she realized they had no other way, but to keep going on on the path or see her father succumb to the slow death that neither wished. Ishani knew whoever this stranger was, meant no harm to her or her father. Maybe God would be kind enough to let her meet him someday so that she could thank him? Ishani knew she had to.

No matter in whatever she tried to indulge herself, her thoughts kept returning to him only, the unknown savior. The person her father would have considered an angel had he been with her. But he wasn't here.

Ishani wiped the tear from her eyes. She heard nothing from Chirag either. His phone had come switch off no matter how many times she dialed the number. His family said they hadn't heard anything from him in last many hours and that he didn't pick up their calls either. He must be busy, Ishani thought to herself as she prepared to go back to her house. The darkening sky cast a shadow filled with grey clouds. She needed to return home before it rained.

The unseasonal rain meant God was crying, she was reminded. It was September. What would one expect?

RV pretended Puneet's questions did not affect him at all, but the reality lay somewhere else. He was beginning to crack like the clay that began to dry itself in presence of the sunshine. Just like everytime, the evening brought back the phantoms of the past when he let go of the facade just to be himself once in a while. The memories were so fresh from those days when he didn't know anything beyond her. Certain words were the untried concepts, not meant to exist beyond love until love was lost, ripped from him like a bone filleted out of the body, leaving the flesh empty and bleeding.

Reality was harsh; and he realized it with the coldest blow life could offer.

Only two days when he would have something back in his life, he reminded himself, and the thought involuntarily brought a sense of life within him. The sole purpose of his life was to give justice to his Mota Babuji, to his parents and to Ishani. Yet he couldn't help but think beyond as well, for it didn't hurt to plan for a non-existing future. What was he supposed to do after the revenge and justice?

His father told him the path he had decided to tread on was faithfully dangerous. "You might destroy yourself as well," Kailash had said but RV shook his head. There was nothing more to lose and nothing to fear anymore.

Just in case anything went wrong, RV knew Puneet would look after everything. Even if he didn't say it, RV knew Puneet was the only person he would trust blindly.

But until the mission was accomplished, he was going to be faceless to the world. They'll never who was RV. He would be the villain they wished never to see. But he would be one.

A demon to the world. RV smiled cruelly.